Exercise device

ABSTRACT

A resistance device for an exercise machine which includes a flywheel which is mounted for rotation about an axis and two actuators, on opposed sides of the flywheel, which are mounted for rotation in unison about the axis and which are directly coupled to the flywheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a resistance device which is of compact construction and which can be used in a variety of applications e.g. in an energy storage mechanism, or in an exercise machine such as a treadmill, exercise cycle, elliptical-type machine, or a fly-wheel based system, and wherein, according to requirement, the exercise machine can be actuated by a user's hands and arms, or legs.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention provides a resistance device which includes a load-resisting member which is mounted for rotation about a first axis, a drive member which is mounted for rotation about the first axis, at least a first actuator for rotating the drive member, and a drive transfer arrangement for translating rotational drive from the drive member into rotational drive of the load-resisting member, and wherein the rotational speed of the load-resisting member is greater than the rotational speed of the drive member.

The first actuator may take on any suitable form but, preferably, is in the nature of a crank.

Preferably the resistance device includes a second actuator and the first and second actuators are located, respectively, on opposed sides of the load-resisting member. In the case in which each actuator is a crank the cranks are preferably angularly displaced at 180° relatively to each other.

The load-resisting member may be mounted on an axle and it may be freely rotatable about the axle. In other words the load-resisting member is not necessarily fixed to the axle. Each actuator may be directly fixed to the axle.

The drive member may be mounted to the axle and it may be fixed to the axle.

The drive transfer arrangement may be of any appropriate type and preferably includes a shaft which is parallel to the first axis, a first pulley which is driven by means of a belt, chain or similar device from the drive member and which is mounted to the shaft on a first side of the load-resisting member, the first pulley being of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the drive member, a second pulley which is positioned on a second side of the load-resisting member, remote from the first side, the second pulley being fixed to the shaft, a third pulley which is fixed to the load-resisting member and which is on the second side of the load-resisting member, the third pulley being smaller in diameter than the second pulley and being rotatable in at least a first direction about the first axis, in unison with the load-resisting member, and a belt, chain or similar device for driving the third pulley from the second pulley.

The third pulley may be fixed to the load-resisting member via a one-way drive device, such as a one-way clutch or bearing so that rotational drive in a first direction is transferred from the pulley to the load-resisting member. However the action of the one-way drive device is such that drive is not transferred from the load-resisting member to the third pulley.

“Pulley” is used herein in a generic sense and includes a pulley, cog, roller or similar rotational drive or driven device.

The load-resisting member may of any appropriate kind and preferably is in the nature of a flywheel. The flywheel may be braked in any appropriate way to provide a yielding load-resisting force which acts against free rotation of the flywheel. In this regard use may be made of a belt or similar friction device which acts against movement of the flywheel, a magnetic brake, or any equivalent device. The invention is not limited in this regard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates, in exploded form, a resistance device according to one form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The accompanying drawing illustrates, in exploded form, a resistance device 10 according to the invention. Only those components which are necessary for an understanding of the working of the invention are illustrated. It is to be understood that other components such as a housing, safety guard or the like have been omitted for clarity of illustration.

The device 10 includes an axle 12 which is positioned on a first axis 14. A load-resisting device in the form of a flywheel 16 is mounted for free rotation on the axle. Thus the flywheel is not rotatable together with the axle but is rotatable about the axle.

The axle 12, on a first side 18, has a number of flat surfaces 20. A drive member 22, in the nature of a ribbed pulley, is fitted over an end of the axle which protrudes on the first side and is fixed thereto so that the pulley and the axle are rotatable in unison.

A cranked actuator 24 with a hole 26 which is complementary to the end of the axle with the flat surfaces 20, is engaged with the flat surfaces in a non-releasable manner. The actuator includes a lever 28 which terminates in a handle 30 which is rotatable about a stub axle 32.

A support frame member 34 is used to support the protruding end of the axle and to shield the actuator 24 from the drive member 22.

A shaft 40, located on a second axis 41 which is spaced from and which is parallel to the axis 14, is mounted, at one end, to a bearing, not shown, which is engaged with the support frame member 34. A first pulley 42 is fixed to the shaft so that it is rotatable together with the shaft. The pulley has a smaller diameter than the drive member 22. A ribbed belt 46 which passes over a jockey wheel 48 is used for transferring rotational movement from the drive member 22 to the first pulley 42.

A second pulley 60, which is larger in diameter than the first pulley 42, is mounted to one end of the shaft 40 on a second side 62 of the flywheel 16. A ribbed belt 64 is engaged with the second pulley and is used for transferring rotational movement from the second pulley to a third pulley 70 which is fixed to the flywheel. The third pulley 70 is smaller in diameter than the second pulley. The axle 12 protrudes from the flywheel and the third pulley 70, on the second side 62. This protruding end of the axle is similar to the protruding end on the first side of the flywheel and carries flat formations 20A which are similar to the flat surfaces 20. A crank actuator 80 is engageable with the flat formations 20A.

In this example the actuator 80 is offset, in an angular sense, by 180° with respect to the actuator 24. The actuators are however linked and when one actuator is rotated in a first direction about the axis 14 the other actuator is rotated in the same direction and at the same rate.

In the illustrated example the device 10 is designed to be actuated by hand. The flywheel 16 may be frictionally braked using a belt or similar device, which is engaged with a periphery of the flywheel, using techniques which are known in the art. Preferably however a magnetic brake, of a kind which is known in the art, is used for inhibiting free rotation of the flywheel, according to requirement. The magnetic brake typically includes one or more magnets 90 which are fixed to the flywheel and which are rotated, together with the flywheel, passed ferro-magnetic components in which electromagnetic fields are induced which restrain flywheel rotation. This kind of brake is readily adjustable to exert a greater or lesser braking force on the flywheel.

If the axle 12 is rotated, by operating one or both of the actuators 24 and 80, then the drive member 22 is rotated in the same direction. Rotational drive is then transferred to the shaft 40. As the drive member 22 is larger in diameter than the first pulley the rotational speed of the first pulley is greater than the rotational speed of the member 22. The second pulley has a larger diameter than the first pulley and thus, although it moves at the same rotational speed as the first pulley, its peripheral speed is greater. This means that the third pulley, which is of smaller diameter than the second pulley, is rotated at an increased rotational speed. The third pulley, as noted, is fixed to the flywheel and the flywheel therefore rotates at a substantially increased speed relatively to the rotational speed of the actuators 24 and 80.

The construction illustrated is of a compact nature and is highly effective in offering load-resisting movement of the flywheel when the actuators are employed.

Each handle 30, in this example, is designed to be used by hand, but, through suitable shaping, may readily act as a pedal so that the device may be hand or foot operated, according to requirement.

The resistance device can be incorporated in various forms in exercise machines such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, cycles, rowing-type machines, and the like. Also, the resistance device can be used as an energy storage mechanism, with rotational energy stored primarily in the flywheel.

A one-way clutch or bearing 84 can be used between the flywheel 16 and the third pulley 70 so that the rotational drive is transferred in a first direction only from the pulley to the flywheel. Rotational movement will not however be transferred from the flywheel to the pulley. 

1. A resistance device comprising: a load-resisting member mounted for rotation about a first axis; a drive member mounted for rotation about the first axis; at least a first actuator for rotating the drive member; and a drive transfer arrangement for translating rotational drive from the drive member into rotational drive of the load resisting member, wherein the rotational speed of the load-resisting member is greater than the rotational speed of the drive member.
 2. The resistance device according to claim 1 wherein the drive transfer arrangement further comprises: a shaft which is parallel to the first axis; a first pulley driven from the drive member and mounted to the shaft on a first side of the load-resisting member; a second pulley positioned on a second side of the load-resisting member, remote from the first side, the second pulley being fixed to the shaft; and a third pulley which is fixed to the load-resisting member and which is rotatable in at least a first direction about the first axis, in unison with the load-resisting member.
 3. The resistance device according to claim 1 wherein the load-resisting member is a flywheel.
 4. The resistance device according to claim 3, further comprising a braking mechanism which is operable to vary a force which acts against rotation of the flywheel.
 5. The resistance device according to claim 1 wherein the first actuator is on a first side of the load-resisting member, said resistance device further comprising a second actuator for rotating the drive member on a second side of the load-resisting member opposite the first side.
 6. The resistance device according to claim 1, further comprising an axle disposed along the first axis, said driver member being first to said axle.
 7. The resistance device according to claim 2, wherein the first pulley has a smaller diameter than the drive member, and the third pulley has a smaller diameter than the second pulley.
 8. The resistance device according to claim 2, further comprising a one-way drive device connecting the third pulley to the load-resisting member.
 9. A resistance device comprising: an axle; a flywheel mounted for rotation about the axle; a drive pulley fixed to the axle on a first side of the flywheel; a shaft which is spaced from, and which is parallel to, the axle; a first pulley fixed to the shaft, and being driven by the drive member; a second pulley fixed to the shaft; a third pulley disposed on a second side of the flywheel for rotation about the axle, said third pulley connected to the flywheel and being driven by the second pulley; and at least one actuator for rotating the axle.
 10. A resistance device for an exercise machine comprising: a flywheel mounted for rotation about an axis; and two actuators disposed on opposing sides of the flywheel, said actuators mounted for rotation in unison about the axis and being directly coupled to the flywheel. 